This article analyzes the importance of public libraries in the context of social development and commu- nity participation. Accordingly, it identifies the importance of public libraries as spaces of social interac- tion and coexistence between citizens, presenting the case of the park libraries in Medellin, Colombia, as a successful strategy for promoting citizen inclusion and participation. The article concludes that public libraries are inclusive spaces, in terms of equal access to technological, informational, cultural and social services, as well as knowledge-accessing services. The article is the result of research conducted in 2012 titled Strategies of public communication for citizen participation in park libraries: case study of the Parque Biblioteca Fernando Botero library in the city of Medellin. This research was conducted within the Sinfacciones research incubator of the Communications Faculty at Universidad de Antioquia.